Ice bag for treating athletes

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment of this invention two sleeves of rubberized flannel are disposed one within the other with their opposite ends fastened together but spaced from one another along their lengths so that they form a hollow jacket for holding cracked or crushed ice. The arm or leg to be treated is inserted into this jacket. The rubber sides of the inner and outer sleeves face one another so that the jacket is water-impervious. A zipper-closed opening in the outer sleeve permits easy insertion of ice into the jacket and removal of ice and water therefrom. An elastic strap attached at one end, and snap fastened at its other end to the outside of the outer sleeve and adapted to be wound helically around the jacket allows some pressure to be applied to the ice pack. For treating other parts of the body, which cannot be inserted into a jacket a roll for holding ice may be formed from rubberized fabric and wrapped around the torso, thigh, or other part to be treated and the elastic strap or straps are drawn tight.

United States Patent McCormick 1 51 July 25,1972

[54] ICE BAG FOR TREATING ATHLETES Wayne A. McCormick, P.O. Box 35, Dewitt, Portsmouth, NY 13214 22 Filed: Dec. 3, 1969 21 Appl.No.: 881,684

[72] Inventor:

52 u.s.c1 ..l28/402,l28/165 511 lnt.CI. ..A6lf7/00 [58] FieldofSearch ..150 2.1,2.2,2.3,24,2.5; 128/77, 80, 82, 82.1, 87, 89, 90, 1.2, 165, 290, 293,

2,403,676 7/1946 Modlinski... ....l28/402 2,949,914 8/1960 Wa1drum... .,..l28/402 3,074,405 1/1963 Duensing ..128/80 R X Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner.l. C. McGowan Attorney-Shlesinger, Fitzsimmons & Shlesinger [57] ABSTRACT In one embodiment of this invention two sleeves of rubberized flannel are disposed one within the other with their opposite ends fastened together but spaced from one another along their lengths so that they form a hollow jacket for holding cracked or crushed ice. The arm or leg to be treated is inserted into this jacket. The rubber sides of the inner and outer sleeves face one another so that the jacket is water-impervious. A zipper-closed opening in the outer sleeve permits easy insertion of ice into the jacket and removal of ice and water therefrom. An elastic strap attached at one end, and snap fastened at its other end to the outside of the outer sleeve and adapted to be wound helically around the jacket allows some pressure to be applied to the ice pack. For treating other parts of the body, which cannot be inserted into a jacket a roll for holding ice may be formed from rubberized fabric and wrapped around the torso, thigh, or other part to be treated and the elastic strap or straps are drawn tight.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,936

4 WAYNE A. MQCORMICK Bywa 51M! ATTORNEYS ICE BAG FOR TREATING ATHLETES This invention relates to the treatment of physical injuries, and more particularly to a wrap for use in treating charley horse," sore arms and elbows, bruised knees, etc. of athletes.

Sore or bruised muscles and other such injuries are quite common as a result of athletic activities particularly in the case of professional athletes. They can be a major hindrance to an athlete since such injuries interfere with his ability to perform; and, if not treated promptly and correctly may result in permanent impairment and even cause early retirement of the athlete from his profession.

Heretofore, the standard treatment for a sore arm or leg of an athlete has been to immerse the limb in a pail of ice or to put an ice bag on it. lce bags, however, are of little value in treatment of a leg or arm because they do not conform to the shape of the limb. Moreover, it takes too long for the cold from an ice bag to penetrate along the length of a bruised arm or leg. To place an arm or leg in a pail of ice is about the worst thing that can be done to an athlete since this tends to freeze the muscles instead of loosening them.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved applicator for cold-treatment of bodily injuries, such as charley-horse, sore arms and elbows, bruised knees and the like, which will quickly lower the temperature in the injured part without danger of freezing it.

Another object of this invention is to provide an applicator of the type described with which pressure can be applied to an injured muscle while reducing the internal heat therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved applicator of the type described that will conform to the shape of the injured part, more effectively to effect cold treatment thereof.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing FIG. 1 illustrates a sleeve-type applicator made in accordance with one embodiment of this invention; and applied to a persons arm for treatment of an injury thereto;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the applicator taken along line 2-2 in Flg. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, but with the arm removed;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a modified applicator made in accordance with a second embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an applicator made in accordance with still a further embodiment of this invention; and

F IG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 6- 6 in FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference and first to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l and 2, l0 denotes generally a wrap or jacket comprising an outer sleeve 12 made of rubberized flannel, and an inner sleeve 14 of similar material. The two sleeves are spaced from one another along their lengths but have their opposite ends sewn or otherwise secured together as at l3, 15 to form a watertight enclosure bounded by the sleeves l2 and M. The rubber surfaces l7, 19 of these sleeves face inwardly of the enclosure 10, and the cloth or flannel surfaces 20, 21 face outwardly. Thus, desired water tightness is achieved while providing a soft inner layer against the skin.

Intermediate its ends the sleeve 12 has therethrough an opening which extends axially of applicator l0, and which is closed by a conventional Zipper 16. When the Zipper is opened, the space between the sleeves l2 and 14 can be filled with chopped or crushed ice.

Fastened at one end to the exterior of sleeve 12 adjacent its lower end (FIG. -1 or held at its lower end by wrapping it on itself, is an elongate, elastic band or strap 22. Adjacent its opposite end strap 22 may have attached thereto a female snap fastener 23, which is adapted to be engaged selectively with any one'of three male fasteners 24 (only two of which are illustrated in FIG. 1) that are sewed or otherwise fastened to the exterior of sleeve 12 adjacent the upper end thereof, or the arrangement may be reversed; and there may be a single male snap fastener on the upper end of the belt 22 and three female snap fasteners on the sleeve spaced apart and selectively engageable with the male fastener.

In use, to treat, for example, an injury to a person's arm 25, the Zipper 16 is opened, and ice 18 is inserted into the jacket 10 reasonably to fill the space between the outer and inner sleeves l2 and 14. The Zipper 16 is then closed; and the injured person then inserts his or her arm 25 through the central opening in wrap 10 until his or her hand projects from the lower end of the jacket as illustrated in FIG. 1. The elastic band 22 is then wrapped helically upwardly about the jacket while pulling it taut; and its upper end is fastened by the female snap 23 to one of the three male snaps 24, depending upon the amount of tension desired in the band 22. This allows the wrap to be fit snugly around the arm 25 and also permits applying some pressure on the part being treated. Since wrap 10 conforms to the shape of the person's arm 25, the chilling effect of the ice pack is applied completely around the area of the injury, and under the pressure exerted by the band 22. Moreover, since the flannel or cloth surface 20 of the inner sleeve 14 is in direct contact with the person's skin, freezing of the enclosed portion of the arm is prevented. The wrap 10 is particularly useful for treating injuries in the areas of the persons bicep, elbow and/or wrist or lower leg.

in the embodiment illustrated in F lGS. 3 and 4, the wrap 30 comprises an elongate, rectangular strip of rubberized flannel, which is folded intermediate its ends with the rubber layer 31 inside to form two overlapping portions 32 and '33 that are sewn or otherwise secured together at their edges 34 to form a watertight enclosure. Adjacent one end of wrap 30 (the upper end of FIG. 3) the portion 32 has therethrough an elongate opening that is closed by a conventional Zipper 36. Adjacent the opposite end of the wrap an elastic band 38, which is similar to the band 22 of FIG. 1, is fastened at one end adjacent one corner of the wrap.

The wrap 30 is particularly useful for treating injuries to a persons thigh or torso. ln such case, the Zipper 36 is opened to fill the space between the layers 32 and 33 with crushed ice (not illustrated). The loaded jacket 30 is then wrapped around the injured thigh or torso; and the elastic band 38 is then wound helically around the outside of the wrap 30 and the injured portion of the persons body, and is releasably secured by a female snap (notillustrated) to one of a plurality of male snap fasteners 39 that are secured to the outside of layer 32 adjacent the corner thereof opposite the corner of which the band 38 is permanently secured.

The wrap 40 illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 comprises a strip of rubberized flannel having overlapping folded sections 42 and 43 that are sewn or otherwise secured together at their marginal edges as at 44 to form an elongate, watertight enclosure or wrap. In its center, layer 42 has therethrough an opening, which extends longitudinally of the wrap 40, and which is closed by a conventional Zipper 46. As in the case of the previous embodiments, the rubber surfaces of the layers 42 and 43 confront one another at the interior of the bag, thus providing the exterior of the bag with flannel or cloth surfaces.

Removably mounted in two rows of aligned belt loops 47 that are fastened on layer 42 adjacent opposite sides of the Zipper 46 are two, parallel, elastic bands or belts 48 and 49. Each belt 48 and 49 has fastened to one end thereof a conventional female snap 50 which is releasably engageable selectiveillustrated); after which the Zipper is pulled closed and the side of the wrap 40 remote from the belts 48 and 49 is placed over and around the injured surface of the body. The belts 48 and 49 are then wrapped around the persons body or limb; and their snaps 50 are releasably fastened to a pair of the associated snaps 51 so that the belt will be tensioned to a degree sufficient to retain the ice-filled wrap 40 snugly over the injury and put pressure on the ice pack.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that applicant has developed a relatively simple and inexpensive ice wrap designed to fit snugly and comfortably over, or completely around an injured part. Since the wrap itself is fastened on the injured persons body, it is unnecessary for the person, or a third party, to hold the wrap manually against the bruised area. Thus the injured person may walk about or otherwise remain relatively mobile during treatment. Applicant's invention also avoids having to place the injured area into direct contact with ice, thereby preventing freezing of the muscles. Moreover, by maintaining the flannel surface of the material in contact with the body of the person being treated, discomfort of the person being treated is minimized. allowing for some circulation of air between the wrap and the injured part to prevent freezing the part.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An ice applicator, comprising two flexible, waterproof sleeves mounted within one another and secured together in watertight fashion around both their opposite ends, but spaced from one another along their lengths to provide a compartment between them for holding ice,

the outer of said two sleeves having an opening therein through which ice may be inserted into said compartment,

a Zipper mounted on said outer sleeve selectively for closing said opening,

the inner sleeve being open at both ends and being of a diameter large enough for insertion of a person's limb therethrough,

each sleeve being made of rubberized flannel and having rubber and cloth surfaces on opposite sides, respectively,

the rubber surfaces of the two sleeves confronting one another and forming the walls of said compartment and the cloth surfaces of the two sleeves being disposed at the outside and at the inside, respectively, of the applicator, and

a resilient band secured at one end on the outside of the outer sleeve, said band being longer than said outer sleeve to permit said band to be wound helically about the outside of said outer sleeve when a person's limb has been inserted therethrough for applying pressure to the ice pack in said compartment, and releasable fastening means are secured to the opposite end of said band and the outer sleeve, respectively, to secure said band adjustably and under tension around the outside of said outer sleeve. 

1. An ice applicator, comprising two flexible, waterproof sleeves mounted within one another and secured together in watertight fashion around both their opposite ends, but spaced from one another along their lengths to provide a compartment between them for holding ice, the outer of said two sleeves having an opening therein through which ice may be inserted into said compartment, a Zipper mounted on said outer sleeve selectively for closing said opening, the inNer sleeve being open at both ends and being of a diameter large enough for insertion of a person''s limb therethrough, each sleeve being made of rubberized flannel and having rubber and cloth surfaces on opposite sides, respectively, the rubber surfaces of the two sleeves confronting one another and forming the walls of said compartment and the cloth surfaces of the two sleeves being disposed at the outside and at the inside, respectively, of the applicator, and a resilient band secured at one end on the outside of the outer sleeve, said band being longer than said outer sleeve to permit said band to be wound helically about the outside of said outer sleeve when a person''s limb has been inserted therethrough for applying pressure to the ice pack in said compartment, and releasable fastening means are secured to the opposite end of said band and the outer sleeve, respectively, to secure said band adjustably and under tension around the outside of said outer sleeve. 